Baby walker



Nov. 3, 1953 J. A. HUGHES 2,657,735

BABY WALKER Filed Sept. 25 1950 INVENTOR. JOHN A.HUGHES ATTORNEYPatented Nov. 3, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BABY WALKER John A.Hughes, Chicago, 111.

Application September 23, 1950, Serial No. 186,349

3 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in baby walkers and has for itsobject the provision of a simple light-weight and durable baby walkerwhich will serve as an effectual means for assisting an infant inlearning to walk and at the same time will protect it from such injuriesas are incident during the infant walking period.

Another object of my invention is the provision of means incorporated inthe structure of a baby walker which permits the same to be adjusted todifferent heights so as to accommodate the walker to the infant invarious stages of growth to enable him to stand or to rest.

Still another object of my invention is the provision in a baby walkerof a removable and adjustable seat So that the same may be removed atfrequent intervals for cleaning.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a baby walker whichis adapted to slide easily on a floor surface, thereby avoiding marringof the said surface while at the same time requiring a minimum of eiforton the part of the infant to move the walker over a floor surface.

Other and further objects and advantages of my invention will becomeapparent from the following description when considered in connectionwith the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of m inventionshowing the same being used by an infant.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the baby walker shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 33 of Fig.2.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of a detail.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the seat member showing the same removedfrom the walker structure, and

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 6-6 of Fig.3.

Referring to the drawings, my invention comprises a truncated conicalframe structure It formed of tubular members suitably connectedtogether, as by welding. The frame structure I includes an annular basemember I I, to which is connected a plurality of upwardly inclined armsor members I2, the said members being suitably joined toan upper annularmember I3. Intermediate bracing members Ill and I are suitably connectedto the upright members I2 and serve to reenforce and rigidify thestructure. The bottom of the frame structure I0 may support panels suchas I6, which may be formed of sheet metal, plastic or wood and whichcarry on their outer surfaces, educational or ornamental figures andindicia. The panels I6 are merely for the purpose of decoration orornamentation of the frame structure. Supported on the annular member I3are a plurality of upright tubular posts I1, with each of the said postshaving a plurality of perforations in the walls thereof all in verticalalignment. Supported on the upright members I! is a seat supportingmember I9 consisting of an annular member 20 having attached thereto aplurality of depending leg members 2|. The said leg members are tubularand are of such size as to telescopically receive within themselves theupright members I1. Each of the leg members 2| is provided with one setof perforations 22 to receive a bolt, such as 23. As will be apparent,the member I9 may be adjusted vertically and secured in position bybolts 23 which are passed through registering perforations in themembers I! and 2i. It is to be understood that cooperating channelmembers may be used instead of tubular members.

Suspended from the member I9 is a saddle or seat illustrated moreclearly in Fig. 5 and indicated generally by the numeral 26. The saddle26 is formed preferably of a fabric, such as canvas, or of suitableplastic material. The upper portion of the saddle is preferably tubularin form and is provided with a plurality of fastening elements 29, whichare here shown in the form of triangular elements suitably attached tothe upper edge of the saddle. A plurality of complemental fasteningelements here shown in the form of headed pins 3| are secured to thebody of the saddle in spaced relation to the elements 23. As will beapparent by reference to Figs. 1 and 3, the upper edge of the saddle isintended to be folded over the annular member 26, and when thecooperating fastening elements 29 and 3| are in engagement, the saddleis securely suspended from the said member. Connected to the tubularbody portion of the saddle 26 and ex tending from opposed sides areflaps 34 and 36. The flap 34, which is of longer length than flap 36,carries a plurality of triangular fastening elements 3'5, like theelements 29, arranged at the end of the flap. The opposed flap 36 has aplurality of complemental fastening elements 38 similar to the elements3i, the said elements being arranged in rows in spaced relation so thatadjustment of the flaps which form the seat of the saddle 26 may beeffected to meet the conditions required. A pair of safety straps 39 areprovided to prevent inadvertent disengagement of the flaps 34 and 36.

The base member H is provided with an annular bumper member 4! which isformed of resilient material and is attached to the outer face of themember I I by means of projections 52 having enlarged heads and integralwith the bumper member, the said projections being received in a seriesof spaced openings provided in the wall of the member II, the heads ofthe projections 42 serving to effectively retain the bumper member onthe base member I I.

To prepare the walker for use, the seat supporting member [9 is adjustedrelative to the annular member l3, so that the members I! and 2| are incompletely telescoped relation. This represents the lowermost positionof the seat supporting member [9 relative to the floor surface on whichthe structure is supported. The seatsupporting member I9 is locked insuch position by the bolts 23 which are passed through registeringopenings in the legs i1 and 2|. The flaps 30 and 36 are then fastenedtogether by engaging the fastening elements 31 with one of the rows ofthe complemental fastening elements 38 on the flap 35, the row offastening elements 58 on the flap 36 being selected which will soposition the flap 3:! that the infant occupant of the device may reachthe floor with his feet. As the infant develops in growth, theseat-supporting member [9 may be adjusted upwardly relative to the floorsurface by removing the bolts 23 and raising the said. member andeffecting registration of the openings in the members 2! with a higherseries of openings in the upright members I? and locking the members insuch desired positions by reinsertion of the bolts 23. Correspondingly,the flap members 34 and 36 may be suitably adjusted to elevate the seatportion of the saddle to a desired position above. the floor surface.

Because the base member I is circular in cross-section, substantiallyonly a circular line contact is established between the walker and. thefloor" surface. There is thus provided a minimum of contact over arelatively large bearing area, resulting in easy and smooth gliding ofthe walker over a floor surface and preventing overturning of the walkerin view of the relatively broad base. The rubber bumper member 4I'serves to prevent injury to any furniture or walls as a result of thewalker coming in contact therewith.

As will be apparent, the saddle 28 is readily removeable for cleaningand replacement.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that I.

have provided an improved baby walker having adjustable structuralfeatures whereby the height of the saddle, as well as the size of thesaddle itself up from the floor, may be adjusted accordingly as thegrowth and development of the baby may require.

I claim:

1. A baby walker comprising a substantially truncated conical framestructure, a plurality of upright elements supported on said framestructure, a seat supporting member comprising a rigid annular memberhaving a plurality of depending elements cooperating with said uprightelements and adapted to render said seat supporting member adjustablevertically, and a flexible seat removably secured to said rigid annularmember and suspended from said annular member, said seat having an uppertubular body portion circumferentially encompassing the body of the babyand a flap extending from one side of the tubular body portion andconnected to the other side and passing between the legs of the baby.

2. A baby walker comprising a substantially truncated conical framestructure, a seat supporting member comprising a rigid annular membercarried on said frame structure and adjustable vertically relativethereto, and a seat having a portion folded over said annular member anddetachably secured to said seat for detachably securing said seat tosaid annular mem ber, said seat having an upper tubular body portioncircumferentially encompassing the body of the baby and an adjustableflap extending below and between said tubular body portion and passingbetween-the legs of the baby.

3. A baby walker comprising a substantially truncated conical framestructure, a plurality of upright elements supported on said framestructure, a seat supporting member comprising a rigid annular memberhaving a plurality of depending eiements cooperating with. said uprightelements and adapted to render said seat supporting member adjustablevertically, a flexible seat removably secured to said rigid annularmember and suspended from said annular member, said seat having: anupper tubular body portion circumferentially encompassing the body ofthe baby, a flap extending from. one side of the tubular body portionand connected to the other side and passing between the legs of thebaby; another annular member on said truncated conical frame structureof a larger circumference than said first mentioned annular member andpositioned in alinement with the arms of a baby to be engaged bythehands of the baby.

JOHN A. HUGHES.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 321,867 Van Vleck July '7, 1885 821,116 Nunamaker May 22, 1906899,030 Davis Sept. 22, 1908 923,556 Miller June 1, 1909 1,119,009Gildea Dec. 1, 1914 1,530,405 Perrine Mar. 17, 1925 1,578,040 KilmerMar. 23, 1926 2,574,897 Tantimonaco Nov. 13, 1951

